Jessica's Story...: But God!

Book Synopsis: JESSICA’S STORY … BUT GOD!
When Peter and Paulette Teague’s third child Jessica was diagnosed with a severe developmental disability, the young couple was devastated. Marriages with disabled children end overwhelmingly in divorce, they were advised. Just place her in an institution and get on with your lives. Instead, Peter and Paulette made the conscious choice to keep marriage and family together. After all, the God they loved and served didn’t make mistakes. If He’d created Jessica and chosen them as her parents, He’d also known He could trust them to love her regardless of disabilities.
Even so, juggling care of a developmentally disabled daughter with three other children, jobs, and ministry was often overwhelming, their daughter’s future far from promising. Little could Peter and Paulette have dreamed then that through Jessica God would raise up a ministry which today provides respite, care, and guidance for hundreds of families with special needs members. Or that struggle and heartache would become channels through which God taught His grace, unconditional love, and dependence on His strength rather than their own.
Once upon a time, a young couple’s dreams were shattered by a devastating diagnosis, and they couldn’t see a future beyond pain and sorrow. Thankfully, the Author and Master Weaver of their lives had a very different story in mind. A story that begins with those two most beautiful words: But God…!

“Flip the page in this heartwarming book and discover the God who delights in making beautiful things out of brokenness!”—Joni Eareckson Tada
Joni and Friends International Disability Center

ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Dr. Peter and Paulette Teague are co-founders of Jessica and Friends Community, providing faith-based support and services to those with autism and intellectually disabilities through residential homes, day programs, home and community services, supported employment, and caregiver support.
Peter served as president of Lancaster Bible College (1999-2020) and superintendent of Christian School of York (1979-1998). He holds a Doctor of Education (EdD), is author of From the Podium and Wisdom for the Walk, and has contributed to numerous publications. Paulette holds a Master of Arts (MA) in Education, is a certified learning disabilities therapist, and was founding coordinator of WINGS, a church outreach to the developmentally disabled and their families.
The Teagues are recipients of the Open Door Award, given annually for outstanding service to the disabilities community. Peter is also recipient of the 2020 Biblical Higher Education Award and 2021 ICON of the Year Award, awarded in recognition of four-plus decades of outstanding contribution to the fields of Christian education and leadership development.
Currently residing in Lancaster, PA, Peter and Paulette speak and teach frequently in their fields across North America and internationally. They have four children and ten grandchildren. They can be contacted at www.jessicasstory@jandfcommunity.org
Award-winning investigative journalist Jeanette Windle has authored twenty-three fiction and non-fiction titles, including bestselling Forgiven, the Amish school shooting/Terri Roberts story, and All Saints, also a Sony movie. She can be reached at www.jeanettewindle.com.